So much for Mike Shildt’s prediction that no matter who the Cardinals played in the NLCS, they’d “kick their asses.” The Washington Nationals continued to beat up on St. Louis on Monday night (Oct. 14), defeating them 8-1 and moving within one game of a World Series berth.
The Cardinals’ bats have been quiet throughout the entire series, with the team having scored just two runs in three games — the fewest through three games in any League Championship series in history. But while the Nationals — led by a dominant performance by Stephen Strasburg, who struck out 12 in seven innings of work — seem all but certain to head to their first World Series in franchise history, they said after the game that they’re not taking anything for granted.
“Nothing is won yet,” right-hander Max Scherzer told reporters in the clubhouse. “We have to bring the same kind of effort we’ve brought the whole time.”
Meanwhile, the Cardinals realize their backs are against the wall. “We’ve got to get the lead,” Shildt said after the game, stating the obvious. “We’ve got to get a lead at some point in this series. Hard to win a game if you can’t get the lead. We’ve got to play with a lead.”
Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt assumed some of the responsibility for his team’s lack of offense. “It starts with me,” he said. “I haven’t really done anything this series, and the results speak for themselves, especially tonight. Two runs in three games — it’s tough to have a lead. Our pitchers have done well. [Game 3 starter] Jack [Flaherty] did well. It’s tough to keep doing that when you don’t have the support.”
The Cardinals will have one last chance to get it done against the Nationals and avoid the sweep in Game 4 tonight at 8 p.m. EST.
Subscribe here for our free daily newsletter.
Whether you’re looking to get into shape, or just get out of a funk, The Charge has got you covered. Sign up for our new wellness newsletter today.
